Labeling machine



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LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17. 1957 0 NEY Patented Mar. 12, 1940LABELING MACHINE Walter H. Weeden, Milton, Mass, assignor to PneumaticScale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass, a corporation of MassachusettsApplication November 17, 1937, Serial No. 175,069

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a labeling machine for applying labels tocontainers and the like.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved flexibleadhesive applying pad fora labeling machine which is particularlyadapted to apply adhesive to a curved or irregular surface of an articlewhereby the pad will conform to such irregular surfaces and assure auniform distribution of adhesive thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and superiorconstruction of a flexible adhesive applying pad for a labeling machine,whereby a pad may be produced which possesses greater flexibility andmore ability to withstand wear as compared with other priorconstructions of labeling pads of this type.

With these objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear,the invention consists in the flexible adhesive applying pad and go inthe various structures, arrangements and combinations of partshereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the endof this specification.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a labeling machineembodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the padshown in a different position of operation; and Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

In general, the present invention aims to provide a novel and improvedadhesive applying pad of such novel and superior construction as toenable the pad to withstand excessive wear under long continued periodsof service and at the same time, the pad is provided with qualitieswhich permit a great degree of flexibility. In practice it has beenfound that the usual forms of flexible adhesive applying pads wereeither too hard and so did not give great enough flexibility or theywere too soft so that they did not stand up under severe conditions ofuse.

In accordance with the present invention, the adhesive applying padherein illustrated is constructed in such a manner as to combine thefeatures of flexibility and ability to withstand wear by providing a padin which the outer surfaces arranged to engage the article are made of atough pure gum'rubber while the inner core is made up of a spongerubber. In order to enable the pad to be capable of still greaterflexibility, the core of the pad is provided with a hollow portion asherein shown, thus assisting in permitting the pad to yield sufflcientlyto conform itself to irregular and curved surfaces and market in whichthe article to be labeled is first coated with adhesive atone station ofoperation and thereafter at a succeeding station of operation a label isattached to the article over the adhesive. Reference may be had to thelabeling machine disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,746,988, 1

to Otto G. Brautigam, issued February 11, 1930 for a full and completedescription of such labelers.

As herein illustrated, labeling machines of the type disclosed in theBrautigam patent above u referred to are provided with a reciprocatableslide l0 mounted in guides l4 supported upon the machine frame. Ayieldingly mounted rod l6 upon which the adhesive applying pad ismounted is supported upon the slide Ill and, in operation, the unit isadvanced to an intermediate position, as illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 3, where a glue roll 20 mounted for vertical operation is raisedand lowered to transfer adhesive to the face of the applying pad.Thereafter the unit is advanced to the article 2| to be coated withadhesive whereupon the unit is returned to its retracted position.

In its preferred form and as herein shown, the novel and improvedadhesive applying pad comprising the present invention is cemented to amember 22 preferably made of metal, which is removably secured to thehead portion 24 of the yieldingly mounted rod IS. The pad is constructedwith a soft sponge rubber core 26, faced on four sides with pure gumrubber sheets 28, 30, 32, 34. The four sides are securely weldedtogether by semi-cured rubber comer strips 36, one at each corner toform a tough and compact covering for the sponge rubber core. Theremaining two sides 38, 40, comprising the top and bottom ends of thepad are open to provide greater flexibility for the sponge rubber.Asherein shown, the sponge rubber core 26 is provided with a rectangularopening 42, extending from the top to the bottom of the pad, whichpermits the pad to more readily conform to the contour of the article tobe coated, as illustrated in Fig. 2 by permitting the thick front wallof the pad to more readily flex.

From the description thus far, it will be observed that the novel andimproved adhesive applying pad is constructed in a novel and superiormanner so that in operation, it will present a substantially flat andcompact surface to the adhesive transferring roll 20. Thereafter, uponengaging the article, the pad will readily yield and adapt itself to theshape of the article whereby a film of adhesive may be applied to anirregular surface and particularly a curved surface in such a mannerthat the adhesive will be uniformly distributed. It will also beobserved that the pad is formed in the shape of a trapezoid whichcontributes to the effectiveness of the pad so that when compressed, theangular sides 32, 34 take a curvilinear form and provide a substantialbacking to assure a firm contact of the edges 50, 52 of the pad with thearticle.

In the operation of the machine, after the above described operationshave been performed, the article 2| is advanced on the belt 54 to thenext station of operation where a label is attached and pressed firmlyinto contact with the article.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described as a pad for applying adhesive to an articlein a labeling machine, it will be understood that the invention may alsobe used as a presser or wiper pad for pressing the label against thearticle, previously supplied with an adhesive coating, and also in otherforms of labeling machines within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion formed of a relatively thick compressible resilient materialprovided with an adhesive applying face of a flexing material,possessing high wear resistance, said face being normally disposed in afiat plane and secured to the body to form a unitary structuretherewith.

2. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion formed of relatively thick sponge rubber provided with anadhesive applying face of a flexing material possessing high wearresistance, said face being normally disposed in a fiat plane andsecured to the body to form a unitary structure therewith.

3. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion formed of relatively thick sponge rubber and provided with anadhesive applying face of dense wear resisting flexible rubber said facebeing normally disposed in a flat plane.

4. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a. resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion formed of a compressible resilient material provided with anadhesive applying face and sides of flexible material possessing highwear resistance, said face and sides being secured to the body portionto form a unitary structure therewith.

5. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion formed of a compressible resilient material provided with anadhesive applying face and sides of a dense wear resisting but flexiblerubber secured thereto to form a unitary structure therewith.

6. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion formed of a relatively thick compressible resilient materialprovided with an adhesive applying face of a flexing material,possessing high wear resistance, said face being normally disposed in aflat plane and secured to the body to form a unitary structuretherewith, said body portion being provided with an opening formedtherein for assisting in permitting the body portion to flex and conformto the shape of the article being labeled.

7. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion formed of relatively thick sponge rubber and provided with anadhesive applying face of dense wear resisting flexible rubber, saidface being normally disposed so as to present a flat surface, said bodyportion being provided with an opening formed therein for assisting inpermitting the body portion to flex and conform to the shape of thearticle being labeled.

8. In a labeling machine, an adhesive applying device comprising asupporting member, a resilient pad mounted thereon having its bodyportion of trapezoidal shape in section, formed of a compressibleresilient material provided with an adhesive applying face of a flexingmaterial, possessing high wear resistance, said face being secured tothe body to form a unitary structure therewith.

WALTER H. WEEDEN.

